"I think we got the pedigree to do it," White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "You know how we are on offense and defense and how we are as a team. This locker room's very, very united right now. Every week, we expect to win. There's not a time that I felt like we went into a ballgame (so) far this year that I felt like we (weren't) going to win."

The Falcons haven't traveled this far by chance. Their eighth-ranked offense has rained down 27.5 points per game. Quarterback Matt Ryan is comfortably operating the no-huddle attack and finds himself in the middle of an MVP-type season.

The defense isn't dominant but allows just 17.9 points per game, fourth in the NFL. The Falcons aren't covering up a major weakness.

The undefeated chatter is window dressing. Under coach Mike Smith, the Falcons have learned how to succeed in the regular season. January has been their poison. Unless that changes two months from now, none of this will matter.